West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-09-30

find vast profit by secret ana unia"-
full practices which injure the gen
eral public, are resolved to prevent
if they can, legislation that will pro
tect the people against them. The
millionaire benefciaries of the tariff
tax are resolved to prevent, If they
can, any legislation to relieve the
people from the tribute they now
pay.
We look around us and see the
machinery and powers of govern
ment used to make money, and we
see the most profitable emplOyments
substantially in the hands of the
same class who arc using that ma
ehinery and those powers; we see
enormous wealth rapidly concentra-
ting in their hands. and we see them
in possession of the instrumental
ties that have heretofore controlled
the popular judgment. Disguise it
as we may, this millionaire class is
the governing class, and they gov
ern, not by honest and manly APP
peals to patriotic motive, but by
beating down and driving away
from the public ear men of enlight-
ened conviction and capacity who,
did opportunity offer, would serve
the community with as much fidelity
as a railroad corporation is served
by its attorney.
The body of the people have come
To understand that the methods and
aims of this governing class is an
tagonistic to the general interest.
The present unrest of the middle
class and of the lowest class is the
Outcropping of a feeling that it is
necessary to change those methods
and to lhwart those aims.
There are certain economic propo-
sitions, which altho' not as yet ex-
pressed in language that reaches the
popular heart, are rapidly working
their way to the understanding ofthe
masses. For example, the body of
the people constantly see a syndicate
of bankers get possession of the
management Of a railroad: to build
and equip it cost, say, $5,OOO,OOO;
presently, without dollar of addi-
tiOnal expenditure, the company
sells 100000 of new securities:
in other words by simply printing
bonds and stocks this syndicate ere
ates for itself ten millions of wealth
this method is called watering
the road" it means that the stream
of commerce flowing along this high
way will be taxed wiz; subjected to
toll) sufficient to pay interest on
the ten million of fictitious wealth.
An illustration will make this
matter still palmer. The State au-
thorizes individuals to construct a
bridge and gives them the right 20
collect toll. The theory is that the
amount Of toll shall be in proportion
to the capital expended; viz: the
amount collected shall be sufficient
to compensate for the capital invest
ed. II the bridge costs $4,000, the
tolls are fixed to weld u revenue of
say $2,500,-10 per cent. Presently
as the population increases the line
OF travel doubles, and the same rate
of toll Yields $4,000; or 6 per cent
on, say. $4,000 Thereupon the
hriige company issues $4,000 of
new stock; this new stock is sold
and The individuals composing the
company pocket the money In
other words, line of travel which
ought to be taxed to pay interest on
only $4,000 is taxed to pay interest
on $4,000. This example illus
trates probably the least objection
able of the methods by which colOs-
sal wealth has been suddenly &C
quired within the last twenty years
by quite a number of men; and dis
guise it as we may, the body of the
people are waking up to the neces,
sity of changing conditions 50 un,
favorable 20 the common welfare.
The politicians and place hunters
do not act aggressively in this mat
ter because unwilling to bring
against themselves and their party
the opposition of the railroad inAu.
ence.
Again; altho' popular delusion